Senior Manager, Regulatory Operations

EngineersOfAI; United States; Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Instacart is looking for a Senior Manager to join the Regulatory Operations team. In this hands-on leadership role, you will develop strategies to align compliance goals with business objectives while managing a team of Regulatory Ops and Program Managers. You will be at the forefront of legislative alignment, ensuring that Instacart stays ahead of regulatory changes affecting shoppers and consumers.

The role requires experience in regulatory operations and strong collaboration skills across teams, making it a critical part of Instacart's operations as it expands nationally and internationally.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a leadership role within regulatory operations.
• Strong understanding of legislative compliance and risks.
• Ability to manage and mentor a high-functioning team.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute compliance strategies aligned with business priorities.
• Lead and mentor the Regulatory Ops and Program Managers.
• Drive alignment on legislative initiatives across teams.
• Collaborate with Policy & Government Affairs and Legal.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Team management

Stakeholder alignment

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field

Experience in regulatory operations

Job description

We're transforming the grocery industry

At Instacart, we invite the world to share love through food because we believe everyone should have access to the food they love and more time to enjoy it together. Where others see a simple need for grocery delivery, we see exciting complexity and endless opportunity to serve the varied needs of our community. We work to deliver an essential service that customers rely on to get their groceries and household goods, while also offering safe and flexible earnings opportunities to Instacart Personal Shoppers.

Instacart has become a lifeline for millions of people, and we’re building the team to help push our shopping cart forward. If you’re ready to do the best work of your life, come join our table.

Instacart is a Flex First team

There’s no one-size fits all approach to how we do our best work. Our employees have the flexibility to choose where they do their best work—whether it’s from home, an office, or your favorite coffee shop—while staying connected and building community through regular in‑person events. Learn more about our flexible approach to where we work.

Overview

About the Role

We are seeking a strategic operations and people leader to join the Regulatory Operations team as Senior Manager. This is a hands‑on leadership role — you'll set the strategic direction while remaining deeply embedded in the work alongside your team. In this role, you will own the team's full operating model — managing the legislative pipeline, driving cross‑functional alignment, and ensuring Instacart is always ahead of regulatory change rather than reacting to it. You will serve as a key thought partner to senior leadership on critical business decisions, translating complex legislative and compliance challenges into clear recommendations that shape how Instacart operates. This is a high‑stakes, high‑visibility role: the decisions this team influences directly affect our shoppers, retailers, and consumers.

About the Team

The Regulatory Operations team is a pillar within the Expansions team at Instacart, dedicated to ensuring our operations remain compliant with the evolving landscape of legislation affecting our shoppers, retailers, and consumers. We are a lean, high‑impact team that sits at the intersection of Legal, Policy & Government Affairs, Product, and Operations — translating regulatory change into business decisions and execution. The addition of this Senior Manager role marks a critical investment in the team's ability to operate proactively, scale its impact, and drive the cross‑functional alignment that keeps Instacart ahead of an increasingly complex legislative environment — including as we expand into new international markets with their own distinct regulatory requirements.

About the Job

• Strategic Leadership: Develop and execute strategies that align Instacart's compliance goals with broader business priorities, proactively identifying and addressing regulatory risks before they become escalations. Ensure alignment across technical and non‑technical teams, and serve as the critical escalation point for high‑stakes regulatory decisions.
• Team Management: Lead, coach, and mentor a team of Regulatory Ops and Program Managers while remaining actively embedded in the work, owning key workstreams and initiatives alongside your team.
• Stakeholder Alignment: Lead and advocate for the Regulatory Operations team and broader Operations org by driving alignment on high‑priority legislative initiatives and building strong relationships throughout the organization.
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with Policy & Government Affairs, Legal, Product & Engineering, Business Development, and Operations to drive seamless communication, proactive alignment, and consistent delivery of compliance outcomes across all regulatory initiatives.
• Program & Project Oversight: Oversee t